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Few
things are worse in the home than a ragged coated,
smelly dog. He is a misery to himself and an eyesore
to those who live with him. But when he is kept
clean with daily brushings and grooming he becomes
a new dog and a pleasure to have around the house.
And healthy, well-groomed dogs are always to be
admired.
A young puppy needs little grooming, but it is advisable
from an early stage to get him used to his daily
inspection and brushing. Let him think it is playtime
at first, so that he takes an interest in it. Then
gradually train him to stand still during this grooming
period.
BRUSHING
- This
is best achieved by making the dog stand on
a platform or box, so enabling a complete and
detailed inspection to be made, as well as making
it easier to work on him. The amount of time
spent each day on brushing will, of course depend
on the breed of dog.
- Longhaired
dogs and especially those with curly coats must
be kept well groomed, as otherwise the coat
becomes such a tangle that it can be painful
to the dog and difficult to bring back into
good condition. Brushing of course not only
makes the dog look pleasant and more presentable,
but removes dust, dirt and scurf from the coat
and stimulates the skin and muscles, keeping
them supple and encouraging healthy hair to
grow.
-
If the dog has a smooth coat you will need a
short bristled brush, a hound glove and a soft
cloth. The first job is to use the brush briskly
to free the coat of dandruff and dust. Then
go over all parts of the head, body and limbs
with hound glove. Finish off with the soft cloth
to give the coat a shine.
-
For longhaired coat a coarse toothed comb is
needed and a brush with bristles long enough
to penetrate through the hair right to the skin.
When grooming a longhaired dog it often becomes
necessary to lift up the coat and brush a small
patch at a time.
-
With wirehaired dogs, the comb needs to be smaller
and the teeth closer together. You will also
need a stiff brush. Use the comb to remove all
loose hair, then brush the coat taking the bristles
down to the base of the hair.
TRIMMING
Dogs need a good trimming for their luxuriant
fur to enhance. The dog must be trimmed atleast
once in a year. This also prevents the growth
of unhealthy fur on his body
CLIPPING
Poodles
chiefly require this and the pattern to which
the coat is clipped is usually left to the discretion
of the owner. Indeed there is no need to clip
a large poodle at all if you like a more natural
appearance.
CLEANING
EARS
Daily
attention to your dog's ears is most important.
This is especially so if he has long ears. You can
clean the ears with methylated or surgical spirit,
and dry them thoroughly.
A
clean dog is always appreciated by everyone and
the ultimate credit goes to the owner so why not
be one?
BATHING
Well-groomed
dogs seldom need a bath. Indeed washing the dog
tends to remove the protective and natural oils
from the coat and skin. But if you have to, and
this often comes about because the animal has rolled
in something unpleasant, use warm water and medicated
shampoo. Don't compromise on household detergents
or soaps, which cause skin disorders. Wash and soak
him thoroughly with several rinses to ensure all
the soap is removed. Avoid pouring water into the
ears. Dry him by wiping inside his ears gently with
a soft cloth.
A normal dog's inclination after being bathed is
directly to roll in some more dirt so keep an eye
on him!
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